Rotary gas-engine.



PATENTED JULY 9, 1907.

1). W. WILLIAMS. ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 29, 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTBD JULY 9, 1907.

1). w. WILLIAMS. ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 29, 1905.

fizz/e72 for? W W; (M g per Aokvzgvz No. 859,474. PATENTED JULY 9, 1907, D. W WILLIAMS ROTARY GAS ENGINE. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 29, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 859,474. PATENTBD JULY 9, 1907. .D. W. WILLIAMS. ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 1006.

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I g g MW i ' No; 859,474. 'PATENTED JULY 9, 190vv D. W. WILLIAMS. ROTARY GAS ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1905.

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L i2 aenfor i/Z'zzesais.

UNWED STATES PATENT @FFIGE.

DAVID W. WILLIAMS, OF GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT.

ROTARY GAS-ENGINE.

vented a new and useful Rotary Gas-Engine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an engine in which the explosion of gasolene, naphtha, kerosene or other light hydrocarbon fluid properly mixed and volatilized is utilized to drive a rotatory piston.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, compact and eflicient engine in which gas is exploded against a rotatory piston which is arranged to cause the inflow and compression of the gas before explosionand the outflow of the spent gas after explosion, and to effect the opening and closing of swinging compressionand explosion abutments whereby the gas may be compressed and the explosion directed against the piston, and the opening and closing of the valves whibh permit the inflow of the explosive gas and of the vitalizing and cooling air.

The engine which is illustrated has a casing with a cylindrical piston chamber containing a piston and a pair of oppositely facing swinging abutments which move into and out of the piston chamber in co-operation with the piston, one abutment holding the gas while it is being compressed by the rotation of the piston andthe other abutment retaining the gas under compression and receiving the shock of explosion in such manner that the maximum explosive energy of the gas is exerted against the piston. The rotatory piston is elliptical, its periphery being shaped to co-operate smoothly with the abutments which bear against it and its major diameter being such that the elnds closely fit the peripheral wall of the piston chamber. The gas is drawn in back of the cleaning end of the piston and compressed. in front of the explosion end of the-piston and the fresh or vitalizing air is drawn in back of the explosion end of the piston and driven out with'the spent gas after the explosive effect'has beenutilized in front of the cleaning end of the piston.

The engine shown has one explosion chamber and is only designed to have-one explosion during each rotation of the piston but of course the explosion chambers could be multiplied and there could be more than one explosion during each rotation of the piston without.

departing from the invention. I

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows an elevation looking at one side of an engine that embodies the invention. Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the same engine looking at the other side with the fly wheel and the governor omitted. Fig. 3 shows an elevation with the face plate removed in order to show the interior.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 29, 1906- Ssrial No. 267.640.

Patented July 9, 1907.

Fig. 4 shows a vertical section through the center of the engine taken on the plane 4-4 looking in the direction i indicated by the arrows on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a view looking at one edge of the enginewith the face plates omitted. Fig. 6 is a section showing the swinging explosion and compression abutments. And Fig. 7 is a section showing the air and gas valves.

The casing 1 may have any desired contour and may 3 are fastened to the sides of the casing so as to inclose the cylindrical piston chamber and the valve pockets. An exhaust opening 4 is made through the casing above the base to permit the outflow of gas from the piston chamber.

ably supported by ball bearings 7 arranged inreeesses in hubs formed on the face plates.

The piston s which is elliptical is keyed to the Shaft. The ends 9 and 10 of the major diameter of the piston travel close to the peripheral wall of the cylindrical piston chamber and the side surfaces of the piston travel close to the inner sides of the face plates which form the side :walls of the piston chamber. The ends of the piston are preferably provided with packings 11 which keep tight the joints between the piston and the peripheral wall of the piston chamber, and packing strips 12 are preferably arranged in the side faces of the piston in order to insure tight joints between those faces and the side walls of the piston chamber, Passages 13are made through one wall of. the piston to perthe annular chambers 14 in the piston. Openings 15 an explosion ehamberlfi. In'this chamber is a gas means of which the gas under pressure is exploded at the proper time for driving the piston.

shown and movable into and out of the piston chamber tends through the face plate and on the outside is proholds the arm with the roll against the edge of a cam 23'.

drawn back outof the piston chamber into its pocket,

of the pocket so that its edge rests against the periph be mounted on any suitable form of base 2. Face platesmit communication between the piston chamber and are made through the face plates to provide communi- Tcation between the central chambers in'the piston and At one side'of and opening into the piston chamberis v .90 f igniter, preferably a common electric spark plug 17, by

vided with warm carrying a roll' 21. A spring'22.

This cam is mounted upon the shaft and its rotation causes the explosion abutment at the proper time to be the spring normally tending to draw the abutment out cry of the piston. The inner. face of this abutment is The shaft 5 having an ordinary fly wheel 6 is'prefer- Abovethe explosion chamber in the form of engine .95 is the explosion abutment 18. This ispreferably an oscillatoryabutment mounted on a spindle 19 that ex-'.

formed on an arc of the same circle as the periphery of:

the piston chamber-so that' when the abutmentis drawn back into its, pocket the inner face will form a part of the cylindrical wall of the piston chamber, and the lower face is formed on thearc of a circle the center of which is coincident with the axisof the spindle.

Packing strips 24 are'arranged on the side-faces of this.

abutment to insure tight joints between the face plates and the side faces of the abutment and a packing 25 is arranged in the casing to insure a tight joint between the casing and the lower face of this abutment.

Below the explosion chamber is the compression abutment 26 which moves in and out of a pocket in the casing. This abutment is preferably oscillatory and is fastened to a spindle 27 which extends through the;

face plate and on the outside has an arm 28 which bears a roll 29 that is by a spring 30 held against the edge of a cam 31. This cam is mounted on the shaft and its rotation draws this abutment at theproper timeback into its pocket. The spring tends to drawthe abutmen't out of the pocket so that its edge will feet against the periphery of the piston. Packing strips 32 are 'a r ranged on the side faces of this abutment to form'tight joints between the face'plates and the sidefaces of the abutment and a packing 33 is arranged in the casing toform atight joint between the upper curved face of this abutment and the casing. The inner end of this abut-' mentis so shaped that when the abutment is drawn back into its pocket the pocket is entirely shut off from tached to a spindle 36 that extends through the-face plateand on the outside hasan arm 37 that is drawn toward the center by a spring 38. This spring tends tokeep the. abutment closed with its inner edge resting against the periphery of the piston. -Packing strips 39 are arranged on the sidefaces of this 'abutment to insure tight joints between the face plates and the side faces'of the abutment and a packing 49 is arranged in the casing to insure a tight jointibetweenthe curved upper end of the abutment and the casing.

' Gas is admi tedfto the pistonf'chamber through' th e port 41 that is closed by a valve 42 attached to a spindie 43 about which is a spring 44 that tends to-keep the valve closed (Fig.7). The gas'valve spindle extends through the'casirig and is connected with a lever 45 which is hinged to one end of a rod 46 that is supported by a bracket 47 attached to the face plate. The other end of this rod isjointed, to a'link 48 that atone-end bears a roll 49 that runs in contactwith the edge of a I connected with :t collar 57 that is movableon the cam 5f) on the shaft. The other end of this link is pivotally connected by a pin 480 with an-angle lever 51 that by a link 52 is connected with an arm 53 on one end of a shaft 54 that is supported by a bracket 55 fastened to the'face plate. Attached to the other end of the shaft 54 is a yoke 56 which embraces and is loosely sleeve 58 on the hub of the fly wheel. Engaged with this sleeve are-the forks 59 of the weighted governor levers60. (Figs.2,4.)

The rotation-of the cam 50 oscillates the link 48 and.

through the rod 46-and lever 45 at theproper time opens the valve which controls the gas inlet. If the fly wheel is'rotating too fast and too much gas is being admitted the weighted. governor levers draw out the sleeveand this through the yoke, shaft, 'arm, link, and

lever rocks the link 48 on the joint which connects it with the rod 46 so that its roll will be moved away from the cam. When this link is'in this position the cam does not open the valve which controls the gas inletand thus thevflow of gas will be cut off until the speed-of the fiy wheel drops to normal.

Air is admitted to the piston chamber through'the port 61 which is.controlled by the valve 62 on the stem 63 of which is a spring 64 which tends to keep the valve closed, This valve stem extends through the casing and on the outside is connected-with a lever65.

"which is jointed to the outer end'of a rod 66 that is supported by a bracket 67 fastened to the face plate. The inner end of this rod-bears a roll 68 which runs in contact with the cam 50. As the rolls connected with the gas and air valves. are diametrically opposite the shaft and run against the same cam the gas valve and sir valve are operated to open and close their respective ports alternately (Figs. 2, 7). v

The cams are so timed and the valve connections so made in the engine shown in the drawings, that the gas valve is opened at about the time the explosion end 9 of the piston reaches the compression abutment 26 and remains'open until just before the explosion end reaches the gas inlet port,-at which time the gas valve closes. During this interval the forward movement of the cleaning end 10 of the piston draws gas back of it into the piston chamber. After the gas valve is closed the forward movement of the explosion end 9 of the piston causes a-compression of the gas in the piston chamber-between the front face. of the explosion end of thepiston and the face of the compression abutment .26 which moves in against the periphery of the piston just before the-cleaning end reaches-it so that no gas can escape past it. This compression continues untilqthe explosion end'of the pistonreaches the explosionchamher and then as the explosion end passes.

the explosion chamher,- thegas which is compressed between the front face of this end ofthe piston and the compression abutment escapes around this end of the piston to the backside ofthe piston. The gas is still compressed hack of this end of the piston for the ox plosion abutment l8 closes against the periphery of the explosion and of the piston just as it passes and prevents the escape of any gas backward. As the explosion end of the piston reaohesthe compression abutment and is at practically the same point at which the gas valve is openedthe explosion takes place and the impact of the explosion in the explosion chamber and against the lower face of the explosionabutment and the back face of the explosion end of the piston drives the piston forwardly. The forward movement of the piston now causes another charge of gas to be drawn in for the follow ing explosion. The explosive force of the gas is exerted against the back side of the' explosion I the back of the check abutment below compression abutment that abutment is brought down into contact with the periphery of the piston so as to insure the compression of the following charge which is drawn in back of the cleaning end of the piston and compressed by the forward iaceof the explosion end. The compression abutment as stated, remains down until after the following explosion.

The air valve is opened shortly after the explosion end of the piston passes the air inlet port. Then the forward movement of the explosion end draws ircsh air in back of this end so as to vitalize and reduce the temperature of the gases in the piston chamber. The

air valve is closed just before the cleaning end of the piston reaches the air inlet port.

The check abutment 35 is always held against the periphery of the piston and prevents any backward flow toward the exhaust outlet of gas or air when the gas or air valves are open. Air is not compressed between the forwaid side of the cleaning end and the explosion abutment as the cleaning end moves around for it may flow through the passages 13 in the wall of the piston to the central chambers 14 and from thence through the openings in the face plates to the outer atmosphere. These passages also prevent the compression of air between the front of the cleaning end and v the gas and air inlets. When the compression abutment is closed against .the piston a vacuum will not form under it for air can flow in'through the opening 34 around the abutment stem into the piston chamber below the abutment.

During the rotation of the piston gas is drawn in during nearly half a revolution back of the cleaning end o the piston and then is compressed by the front of the explosion end of the pistonl While gas is being drawn in back of the cleaning end of the piston and that gas is being compressed by the, front of the explosion end of the piston the spent gases of the previous explosion are being drivpn out in front of the cleaning end and fresh air is being drawn in back of the explosion end of the piston. Thus the rotation of the piston draws in gas, compresses it, drives out the spent gas and draws in fresh air for vitalizing the air in'thc interior and cooling-the parts.

The invention claimed is:-

1.'A rotary explosive engine cylindrical piston chamber, an explosion chamber, a gas inlet and an exhaust outlet, :1 rotatory piston in the piston chamber, u swinging abutment on each side of the explosion chamber and movable into and out of the piston chamber. and chamber, substantially as specified.

2. A rotary explosive engine-having a casing with a cylindrical piston chamber, an explosionchambcr, a gas inlet. an air having a casing with a means for igniting gas in the explosion inlet, and an exhaust outlet, :1 rotatory l l l l i i .and out of the piston in the piston chamber, a swinging abutment on each side of the explosion chamber and. movable into and out of the piston chamber, and means for igniting gas in the explosion chamber. substantially as specified.

3. A rotary explosive engine having :1 easing with a cylindrical piston chamber, an explosion chamber, and a gas inlet, a rotatory piston in the piston chamber and having'an exhaust outlet through the piston, an abutincnt on each side of the explosion chamber and movable into and out of the piston chamber, and means for igniting gas in the explosion chamber, substantially as specified. v

4. A rotary explosive engine having a casing with a cylindrical piston chamber, an explosion chamber, a gas inlet and an exhaust outlet, :1 rotatory piston having an explosion end and a cleaning end in the piston chamber, :1 swinging abutment on each side of the explosion chamber and movable into and out of the piston chamber, and means for igniting gas in the explosion chamber, substantially as specified.

inlet, and an exhaust outlet, 21 rotatory piston in the piston chamber; an abutment on each side of the explosion chamber and movable into and out of the piston chamber, an abutment back of the gas inlet and movable into and out of the piston chamber, and means for igniting gas in the explosion chamber, substantially as specified.

6. A rotary explosive engine having a casing with a cylindrical piston chamber, an explosion chamber, a gas inlet and an exhaust outlet, an elliptical rotatory piston with the ends of its major axis in contact with the cylindrical wall of the piston chamber, an oscillatory abutment on each side of the explosion-chamber and movable into and out of the piston chamber, and means for igniting gas in the explosion chamber, substantially as specified.

7. A rotary explosive engine having :1 casing with a cylindrical pistonchamber, an explosion chamber, a gas '85 5. A rotary explosive engine, having a casing with a cylindrical piston chamber, an explosion chamber, a gas ioo inlet and an exhaust outlet, a rotatory piston in the piston chamber, an abutment on each side of the explosion chamber and movable into and out of the piston chamber, springs arranged to move the abutments into engagement with the periphery of the piston, cams ar-- ranged to move the abutments away from the periphery of the piston, and means for igniting gas in the explosion chamber, substantially as specified.

8. A rotary explosive engine having a casing with a cylindrical piston chamber, a gas inlet and an exhaust outlet, a rotatory piston having an exploslon 'end and a. cleaning end in the piston chamber, a swinging compression abutment movable into and out of the piston chamber, -a swinging explosion abutment movable into and out of the piston chamber, and means for igniting gas located between the compression abutment and the,

explosion abutment, substantially as specified.

9. A rotary explosive engine having a casing with a piston chamber, an explosion chamber, a gas inlet, an air inlet, and an exhaust outlet, a rotatory piston in the piston chamber, a compression abutment movable into piston chamber, means for moving the compression abutment toward the periphery of the piston, means for holding the compression abutment away from the periphery of the" piston, an explosion abutment movable into-and out of the piston chamber, means for.

moving the explosion abutment toward 'the'periphery of the piston, means .for holding the-explosion abutment away from the periphery of the piston, means for igniting gas between the compression abutment and the explosion abutment, a valve controlling the gas inlet, a valve controlling the air inlet, means for closing the gas and air valves, and means for opening the gas and air valves, substantially as specified.

10. A rotary explosive engine having a casing with a cylindrical piston chamber, a gasjnlet and an exhaust outlet, a rotatory piston having an explosion end and a cleaning end in the piston chamber, a swinging abutment IIOVillIlE into and out of the piston chamber and adapted 1O inlet and piston chamber and having annular recesses communicat ing with openings through the casing and with passages through the periphery of the piston a swinging abutment on eachside of the explosion chamber and movable into and out of the piston chamber, and means for igniting gas in the explosion chamber, substantially as specified.

DAVID W. WILLIAMS. Witnesses 2 ETHEL M. Lows, HARRY R. WILLIAMS. 

